SAN ANTONIO — The woman accused of driving drunk and crashing head-on into a popular East Central ISD teacher earlier this year, killing her, asked a judge for leniency Thursday.
Giovanna Blangiardo wanted the court to let her off full house arrest so she could leave her home, but that was met with pushback from the District Attorney's Office. She's accused in the February death of Whitney Weddel.
Weddel's family and friends also appeared at the hearing, hoping their presence would show the judge the love and support Whitney had before spurring him to deny Blangiardo's request.
The request was partially granted, but only to attend medical appointments for herself and her children, including a special needs child.
Blangiardo is facing a charge of intoxication manslaughter in connection with the Feb. 8 incident. Deputies say Blangiardo was drunk and driving the wrong way on Potranco Road, when she hit Weddel head-on.
The accident happened in the early morning hours as Weddel was driving home after spending the night with her boyfriend, according to her family. She died after she was rushed to the hospital.
Blangiardo was arrested and released on a $250,000 bond before being placed on full house arrest. On Thursday afternoon, she asked the court to amend bond conditions.
A friend of Weddel started a Change.org petition against Blangiardo's request. It's gained more than 3,000 signatures.
"I feel like my daughter got justice," said Monique Presas, Weddel's mother. "I feel overwhelmed. I'm grateful, I'm thankful for what happened today, (for) how they fought for my daughter. I think that it was fair that it stayed the way it was."
During the hearing, Blangiardo's attorney argued for her to be able to leave her home to run errands like grocery shopping, attending medical appointments, getting a job, attending AA meetings and going to church.
The District Attorney's Office asked the judge to deny the motion, saying it wouldn't be appropriate given Blangdiardo's past criminal history and the nature of the offense. Blangiardo will be allowed to attend doctors appointments, so long as she provides proof, and isn't allowed to drive.
There was also a brief heated exchange between Blangiardo's attorney and Weddel's parents after the hearing, where they made it clear they didn't want to speak with him. KENS 5 asked Whitney's mother about what was said.
"Basically what he was saying was that you people don't understand, and he doesn't understand," she said. "His client doesn't understand and my husband is grieving my daughter, our precious daughter who was a nurse and an educator who saved lives—and he said we don't understand. I said, 'What is there to understand? Our daughter's dead, and we can't do anything about that. We can never get her back.'"
Blangiardo has yet to be indicted on the intoxication manslaughter charge, but Presas hopes that will come soon, adding she looks forward to a trial. She faces anywhere from two to 20 years in prison if convicted.
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